Configuring ISA Server 2000: Building Firewalls for Windows 2000 [Hardcover]

With Internet security an increasing concern, so in turn there has been an increase in firewall solutions aimed to protect enterprise organisations from unwanted intrusion and malicious attack. Supporting the deployment of Microsoft's upgrade to Proxy Server 2.0, Configuring ISA Server 2000 is a true heavyweight designed to help network professionals muscle through the minefield of installation.

Written by experienced trainers and authors Thomas and Debra Shinder, this hardback reference is rich in content and ripe for the job of assisting any administrator with an understanding of the TCP/IP protocol stack. Balancing the issues of Internet security with configuring your ISA-protected network for optimum performance, this book cleverly guides its readers through the maze of ISA Server with clear step-by-step "walk-through" exercises.

From the outset the Shinder's address the issues at hand in a thorough and authoritative manner. The opening chapter presenting an introduction to Microsoft ISA Server provides an excellent overview of ISA Server's functionality. The chapters that follow then deliver a detailed discussion of a number of topics including security concepts and policies, deployment, planning and design through to matters of configuration, Web and server publishing, and troubleshooting.

Each of the books chapters concludes with a useful FAQ's section, and there's also details of a Web link where you can "Ask the Author" the questions that haven't been answered. Other features included are "Undocumented ISA" and an electronic searchable copy of the book on CD. All in all, little is left uncovered in this excellent reference. --Peter Lunn

Microsoft's flagship ISA Server delivers the Internet to your customers! As the demand for Internet connectivity reaches a fever pitch, system administrators are being challenged to connect more and more systems to the Internet without compromising security or network performance. ISA Server 2000 provides system administrators with a revolutionary management infrastructure that addresses the two greatest needs of Enterprise-wide Internet connectivity: Security and Speed. Written by best-selling author of several MCSE 2000 study guides, this book will provide the system administrators with an in depth understanding of all the critical features of Microsoft's flag ship Internet Server. "Configuring ISA Server 2000" shows network administrators how to connect a network to the Internet, maintain the connection, and troubleshoot remote users' hardware and software configuration problems. There is up-to-date coverage of new products specific to Windows 2000. It shows network administrators how to supply e-mail whilst maintaining network security. It focuses on providing secure remote access to a network.

Because security and network performance--the two-pronged purpose of ISA Server--are so important in today's interconnected world, ISA Server plays a vital role in your overall network design. Configuring ISA Server 2000 will play an equally vital role in helping you understand Microsoft's much-anticipated Web-caching, filtering, and connection-sharing software package, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000--or more simply, ISA Server.

Learn ISA Server's features: Master the security, acceleration, and Internet connection sharing features of ISA Server Understand ISA's architecture: Get an overview of ISA Server's complex architecture and how the program's components work at various layers of the network communications models Select proper authentication methods: Read about ISA's different authentication options, depending on the type of client Administer ISA with confidence: Master the unknown and undocumented components and features of ISA Understand ISA's firewall features: Now you'll understand multiplayer filtering, stateful inspection, intrusion detection, secure VPN, streaming media splitting, and more Recognise intrusion attacks: Set up ISA Firewall to detect all-ports scan, IP half scans, ping of deaths, land attacks, UDP bombs and other attacks Use ISA as a Web-caching server: Read about smart and scheduled caching, distributed caching, and hierarchical caching options Save time: Get complete coverage of wizards that guide you through common setup and management tasks Register for your 1-year upgrade: The Syngress Solutions upgrade plan protects you from content obsolescence and provides monthly mailings, whitepapers and more